[APPENDIX I]
(By M. Edmond Biré)
THE MORGANATIC MARRIAGE OF THE DUCHESSE DE BERRY
The Comte de La Ferronnays, in the course of his interviews with King Charles X. at Hradschin Castle[456], brought himself to say:
"If Madame has not yet complied with Your Majesty's wish, if she has hitherto refused to furnish the proof which is asked of her, it is because her advisers in Paris, M. Hennequin[457] among others, have frightened her as to the consequences that might ensue to her from the publicity which it may perhaps be intended to give to her marriage. She has been told that Your Majesty would not be satisfied until you had the original instrument in your hands. Now Madame, I fear, will never part with that document. But, if there were any other means of obtaining the certainty which Your Majesty desires to have, if a man honoured with all the King's confidence, such as M. de Montbel, for instance, could, on his word of honour, vouch for the existence and the perfect regularity of the marriage-deed, would the King then declare himself satisfied?"
Since the Emigration, Charles X. had the habit of addressing M. de La Ferronnays in the second person singular. He replied eagerly:
"Yes, certainly, I only ask to be convinced."
It was then arranged that M. de La Ferronnays and M. de Montbel should go to Florence to the Duchesse de Berry. The Comte de La Ferronnays continues his narrative in the following words: